Bali Hai, Raleigh, North Carolina Restaurant Details

Food:

Bali Hai is a good cheap place to go for food. The food is good and the people are friendly, and it's all so cheap! The only downside that I think is that they seem to get food confused a lot and I think they need a better system of organizing it. Otherwise I'd give this place five stars.

Food:

Bali Hai is a delicious Mongolian restaurant. The interior design is beautiful and they have very good service. The thing I didn't quite like was how messy it can get after a huge crowd of people; the food bar doesn't get cleaned up as much as it should. Other than that, it's a very good restaurant.

Food:

Best Mongolian BBQ Ever*
So this place is indeed, "visually unappealing," as one reviewer put it. It is a hole in the wall - a lovable hole in the wall, but a hole in the wall nonetheless. Decor is "Good" for a hole in the wall. The service is slightly above the level of service one expects in a cafeteria, but then, the only thing you will need is your drink refilled, so that is not a big deal (at dinner, that is... there is not any waitstaff during lunch). (they make good sweet iced tea, by the way)
There is a possibility that whoever waits on you or takes your money may not possess the skills (or have the time) to talk you out of your tree if you feel the need to whine about something you found displeasing. I suppose if there was a problem with your food, they could probably deal with that, or at least apologize - I would not know, since after eating here several hundred times, I've never really had a problem (except those couple times the food was a bit bland compared to the norm).

What I'm trying to say is - please set your expectations appropriately! This is not a fine dining establishment nor is it a multinational chain with a training curriculum that includes conflict resolution. They only do one thing - churn out consistently delicious Mongolian BBQ.
It's all about the sauce folks. I work 25 miles away and sometimes when I reheat leftovers at work - heads pop up: "Is that Bali Hai? Oh my God I'm hungry."

If you've never eaten Mongolian BBQ before, it is simple:
1. Grab a bowl or two.
2. Put the fresh veggies you like in a bowl (no broccolli sadly, but oh well).
3. Put the frozen shaved meats you like in a bowl (yes, there is only beef, pork, and turkey to choose from in the bins - but ask just in case).
4. Select a sauce/heat level when they ask.
5. Hand your fate over to the guy behind the plexiglass.

So put on your game face, some well worn jeans, a comfortable shirt, and go try it. If you like it, there is a good chance that no other Mongolian place will do. If you don't like it, well, now you know you don't like it.

*Reviewer is biased since he has been eating here for 30 years. Clearly they put something in the sauce. And it is delicious.

Food:

I was not very happy when arriving an there was a ghost restaurant. Made my food then someone arrived to the counter for me to pay, not surprising. I was very unhappy also with the price and do think that it is toooooooo expensive for the restaurant and the choices (meats and vegetables that are available to you. After paying I started thinking that i might have been a little more happy @ Wendy's. Just a personal opinion. After explaining to the clerk that I was unhappy and don't think ill be back he turned and walked away. Completely rude and don't not think all be going back. The food is great, service was horrible and ill never sit down and eat in there. GOOD LUCK!

Food:

Classic case of deceiving looks. This place is so ugly but man is their food delicious. You quickly get past the unpleasing aesthetics and it becomes a non issue as you are enticed by the aroma of the pork, beef, and veggies with D5 sauce and brown rice. Such a simple menu for such amazing food, and its really inexpensive. Plus the staff is super nice and funny. Eating here is always enjoyable and tasty.